Once the school year ended, I packed up my classroom and headed for home. I had every intention of leaving the stress of school behind me. My plans for this extended time off included finishing projects long over due at home, reading some good books, watching some movies, and beginning my Master’s degree courses. I had no idea that the latter would turn out to be a life altering experience. I had no idea that this class would involve changing the way I teach and the way I look at teaching. Here is where the experience begins.

I now have a clear understanding that critical thinking means having a classroom that is student generated. If teachers hope to prepare the students in the 21st century properly, they must guide students towards becoming information seekers, producers of knowledge, problem solvers, and evaluators. Gone are the old methods of rote memorization, and multiple choice tests. My classroom in the fall will look and sound differently. The long linear rows of desks will be transformed into group settings where students work collaboratively on projects that demonstrate their ability to go beyond what they already know. The student responses will drive the lessons, and I will shift instructional strategies accordingly. Students will use technology to access information and then interpret that information. Their projects will be a representation of what they know and what they learned. In other words, students will be responsible for setting goals and monitoring their learning process.

Moreover, the “big picture” will include a Constructivist's Perspective and change from technology as teacher to technology as partner. Students who truly learn with technology will reflect – converse – and explore. I am fully aware and expect that my students will fight this new way as I did initially. I will smile through it all and give a few good one liners used by my instructor Pat Sine who created a teacher with a new direction. Thanks!